Variety (Mar 1949)

24 RAIIIO REVIEWS WedncBclasrv March 30, 1949 y. 8. IN WORLD AFFAIRS Witli Jfehn Foiter DuUes, Philip Jenup, Dew Ruslc; Rieliard HarlineM, moderatorj J » • k Roney, Mmoiiiicer - , Director-producer: Jen Baker Supervisor: Sterlinc W. Fiaher ao Mlns.; ^at. (126), 1:30 p.m. Sustaining WNBC, N. Y. Radio listeners had the unusual opportunity of hearing two sides of a vital problem presented over one weekend via two networks, in an important discussion of the At- lantic Pact. First subject m NBC s new "U. S. in World Affairs" series was the pact, discussed over the network March 20. WNBC car- ried it in rebroadcast Saturday (26). On Sunday (27), quite coin- cideiltally, CBS gave Henry Wal- lace time to discuss the pact, m answer to time the net gave Secre- tary of Stjte Dean Acheson a couple of weeks before. Since the speakers on the "World Affairs" airer defended the pact, and Wal- lace attacked it, listeners got the two sides over the weekend. The "World Affairs" . show, monitored very ably by Richard Harkness. was in the form of a quiz, with Harkness presenting questions on the pact to. John Foster Dulles, Asst. Secretary of State Dean Rusk and U. S. Am- bassador-at-large Philip Jessup, for their points of view. Discus- sion Was couched in simple lan- guage, openly, clearly, so that the layman "could comprehendr- AH three men attacked Russia by name as the aggressor who made the Atlantic Pact necessary. Rusk said the western powers hadnt been able to succeed against aggression under the United Na- tions, so were doing the next best thing. Jessup saw no change in Whole-hearted support of UNt despite the pact. Dulles claimed the pact only a defensive one. There were other forthright questions and answers, on such queries as to the difference if any between this pact and the old mili- tary alliance systems; "by passing" UN, etc. , , Wallace, on the other hand, claimed the pact would impoverish America, alienate Russia and de- stroy the United Nations. He, too, presented his case in calm, unim- passioned manner, his delivery however mounting in intensity to- wards the close of his half-hour. He pointed out that the pact would place the U. S. on a war footing; that it would rearm our recent enemies, Germany and Japan; that civil rights, labor, everyone would suffer. He saw us going to war, while he saw a shooting war as no Snswer to the world's problems^ he only road to peace, he said, was through the UN,- and by an un- derstanding with Russia^ Bron, JRORERT SHAW CHORALE Witli George Gunn, announcer Writer: Bill Rafael Director: Robert Shaw Producersr George Wiest, Rev* Everett Parker 30 Mins.; Thurs., 10<30 v.ni< Sustaining ABC. New York This special series of Lenten music by the 30-voice Collegiate Chorale, under direction of Robert Shaw, is a worthy; contribution to the Holy season for the late tuner- Inners; Presented by the ABC network in cooperation with the Protestant Radio Commission, it is a transcribed series untjl the Easter Synday finale when it* will become a live broadcast, emanat- ing from WJZ, N. Y. Thursday (24) program com- prised two religious choral works; Francis Poulene's "Motets for a iPime of Penitence" and Thomas Tallis' "Lamentations, of Jere- miah." Both were well rehearsed and directed by ,Shaw, with the mixed choir doing brilliantly. It made for soothing, compelling lis- tening. Narration was adequately handled by George Gunn. £dba. THE HERB SHELDON SHOW Producer-Writer: Sheldon Director: Bob Tormey 25 Mins.; Mon.-Frl., l»:3o Sustaining , . WJZ, New York Herb Sheldon, who co-starred vifith Maggi McNellis in the "Luncheon at the Latin Quarter" .stanza which this strip replaces, should hold on to the noontime hausfrau audience WJZ, N. x., built up over the past two years. Sheldon has a warm mike person- ality and does a relaxed show which should appeal to femmes taking a noontime breather. Most- ly it is Sheldon chatting with mild humor about his wife and kids, reminiscing about his youth and similar light subjects, alternating with four disked musical spots. One number on the preem (28) was a community sing, with fehel- don recitinfi the words of 'Powder Your Face With Sunshine" for the gals to join in. Other regular routines will be a wake up service, with Sheldon dialing a listener who has to get up around noon; an interview Nvith a celeb or someone with an inter- esting job (on the opener it was a Roxy theatre usher) and childhood recollections of listeners. Each show will also have a service spot —a phone call to a grocer, butcher, fishmonger or woman's editor—to answer housewives' queries.. On the first aircast Sheldon phoned the "grocer of the month," to get the dope on best buys, food-prices and other marketing tips, Show moves smoothly* aided .by special transcribed themes that cue in the various departments. Station plans to Insert partici- pating spots. Bril. HAVEN OF HOPE With Michael O'Day. Teri Keane, Joseph De Santis. Roger De- Koven, Ian Martin, Ruth Shaffer, Ethel - Everett; Sylvan Levin orch^'. ■ Director: Mitchell Grayson Writer: Jerom'e D. Ross: 30 Mins.; Thurs. (24), 10 p.m. Sustaining Mutual, from New York Telling a story of hope rather than one of death, this half-hour documentary marked the 50th an- niversary of the National Jewish- Hospital at Denver, a free non- sectarian institution. It caught the drama of the world-famous tuber- cular hospital through the senses Of one patient-^. 25Tyear-old com- mercial pilot grounded and bed^ ridden by TB. Tom Henderson, sensitively played by Michael O'Day, saw his hopes dashed when he learned he would never fly again, with the result that he gave up fighting the disease. However, staff doctors and psychiatrists con- vince him of the heroism of other patients and get him to take the hospital's training course for ma^ chinists. O'Day, as the hero; was support- ed excellently by a group includ- ing some of radio's best thespers, ably and warmly directed by Mitch- ell Grayson. An effective original score, composed by Richard Du- Page, was particularly well haiK died by Sylvan Levin and added much to the alrer. The script was competently written, pointing up the fact that the cure of TB goes beyond rest, medicine and surgery. And an especially moving moment ■was.«0'Day's. reading of ,a message^ by Charles Jackson, wlth ^he noveU ist pointing out that he once spent a five-year stint at TB, but the af- fliction turned into a blessing be- cause it'Was then that he really began his education. Bril. VICKI VOLA starring as "MISS MII-LER" on MR. DISTRICT ATTORNEY eighth consecutive year, NBC. As "BETTY MOORE" on THE BETTY MOORE PROGRAM — Mntiinl. ■■ ■''i'im.t'iti'rr, Fasfildri commentator UNIVER- SAL NEWSREEL. Telephone PL 7-OTOO ' Fran the Praiadion Centres ■♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦««♦<♦♦♦♦♦♦ . «♦ « «««<«» II MMM « MMM «»»»1 ONE GREAT HOUR With President Truman, Gregory Peck, Ida Lupino, Robert Mont- gontery, others; Quentin Rey- nolds, narrator Director: AI Ward ~ Writer: Erik Barnouw , . Consultant: Robert E. Sherwood 60 Mins.; Sat. (26) 10 p.m. Sustaining ABC, MBS, CBS, from Hollywood Erik Barnouw, with Robert E. Sherwood serving as consultant, turned in a script for "One Great Hour" which might well serve as ^a'model for fund-raising docu- mentaries. The subject was dra- matic-^a- portrait of humanity in crisis—but large enough for a script in less able hands to get lost in a welter of ideas. Instead, Barnouw broke the story into three simple tales, all unified by the theme, of people in a jam who are being helped by U. S. aid, and ending with the appeal, "We ask you to go to church tomorrow and five to help church relief abroad." he^ form was simple, the writing . (Continued on page 34) DOUBLEDAY QU/IZ CLUB With Henry Marshall; Sidney Wal- ton, announcer Writer-Producer: Sherman Lurie 15 Mins.; Men. to Fri.i 11:45 a.ni; DOUBLEDAY CO. WOR, New York (Huber Hojiue) This new stanza, spotted on WOR, N. y., across-the-board in the 11:45 a.m. slot, is designed to answer problems of listening audi- ence via write-ins. Questions are compiled in various categories and assigned to one of a trio of experts best qualified to answer. On session caught Thursday (24), Henry Marshall, economic coun- sellor, held the rostrum. Questions ranged from importance of making a will; to intricacies of partnership setups and redemption of* muti- lated currency. Marshall provided adequate and authentic advice on the dozen or more questions asked. In addition to pleasing the per- I plexed queryists, it also made for sound and informative advice to other: listeners. Spacing the quiz are two neatly- integrated commercials by Sidney Walton for Doubleday's Business Enclopedia, pointing out that the volume contains answers to context of questions mailed in. £dba. SATURDAY MORNING STORY FAIR With Rettr-Coleman, Alan Shay, Regina Jouvin, IVan Curry, Arthur Kennard, others; Hillard Edel, announcer Writer: John Bates Producer-director: Wayne Murray 55 Mins., Sat., 10 a.m. Sustaining WNYC, New York "Saturday Morning Story Fair" on N.y.'S muny station WNYC should be a natural for the moppet set, and also have a certain amount of interest for elder dialer-inners, who-would recapture their youth, if only momentarily. Its a 55- minute session In the 10 a.m. slot Saturdays and packs plenty of fun for the younger set. Backgrounded by trappings of an- authentic midway on a fair, grounds with calliope music back- grounding and with barker as guide, a quartet of youngsters, chagrined by fear that the old tricks won't click on April Fool's Day, come to the fair to pick up new ideas.' Consequently they are taken through the smidway on a sort of "Alice in Wonderland" tour in hope of finding answer to their problem. In a measure, they succeed, but not until they have had a gala day with the carnival lot characters. For a sock finale the saga of Nathan Hale is spotted via a -repeater machine~.to.. instill, ^a pa? triotic tinge to program and an historical lesson to the young visitors and listeners. An unusually large cast is em- ployed and all handled assigments well. John Bates turned out an Interesting, entertaining script on stanza caught Saturday (26) and Wayne Murray held it to tight production and direction. Hillard Edell^ announcer, narrated in slick manner. "Fair" is probably one of the most ambitious kid programs yet *et.up by WNYCTih*-if-context of succeeding shows- hold up~>to pre- sent standard, it can't mIss; £dba. THE JOAN BROOKS SHOW With Larry Mann, Wilson Angel. house band' 30 Mins., four nights weekly S. F. SAUER CO. WRVA, Richmond The "Joan Brooks Show," WRVA's four-times-a-week half- hour nighttime musical show, is big-league programming on any- body's kilocycles. The ex-NBC- CBS vocalist passed her 250th broadcast last week, under spon- sorship of S. F. Sauer. Local out- fit, dealing in spices, relishes, mayonnaise, etc., .also picks up the I tab for a four-station hookup once ] a week beaming the show into i Charlotte, Roanoke and Washing- ton. Client pays out $200,000 a year for the regional showcasing of Mi.ss Brooks, and in rettirn has been getting a solid SOTminute show tltat merits the bigtime. Miss Brooks is a better singer to- day than a year *id a half ago, when she checked off her late night CBS sustainer. She can thrush 'em with authority, as was evidenced in her treatment last week of such numbers as "Best Years of Our Lives,'' "Besame Mucho," "I Cry for You," etc. She's backed by 16-piece augmented house band, including pianist Larry Mann, who gets his own nightly innings On thfe ivories, and a baritone, Wilson Angel, who Is also a regular on tlie show. fJV mW YORK CITY . . . Jack KUney. NBC director, this week auditioning half-hour weekly series based on "Tree Grows In Brooklyn." Lead role% for audition platter Include Bill' Quinii, Patsy Campbell and Joan Lazer Ed Gruskin Hops to Paris Saturday (2) with missus to take up new ECA post Frank Hlggins takes over as audition director at Blow ... Harold Day, ABC co-op sales manager, elected v-P. of Colgate Alumni of N. y Add Stork Notes: Son, Robert Allen, bom to the Emerson Buckleys (WOR) at Misericordia hospital Sunday (27). Mother, Mary Henderson, is Met Opera soprano Daughter, Annette, bom to the Bert Parks (ABC "Stop the Music" emcee) at Greenwich hospital Thurs* day (24)...; Singer Margaret Phelan to make her network debut' on CBS' "Herb Shriner Show',' ... Ben Grauer, vacationing in Guatemala; returns for "Henry Morgan Show" (NBC) Sunday (3) Morey Am- sterdani returns Monday (4) from hiatus in Florida.... Beatrice Ratliffe, former production asst. on. "Grime Doctor," in similar post for CBS' "What Makes You Tick".. . .Walter.E. Huelee, Westchester newsman, joins WOR as news editor-writer Friday (1). Harry Conover headed for London to open a TV model office.,. .Ursula Halloran, ex-Gimble's, has joined NBC trade press dept. Boy, born Sunday (27) to the John Rebers. He's radio-TV vecpee of J. Walter Thompson Mitchell Grayson, director of CBS' "Big Sister," to direct Torchlight Productions audition platter WOR's "Philo Vance" whodunit switching from Thursday to Tuesday, April 5 John J. McSweehey, Pedlar and Ryan time buyer, has joined WMCA as account exec ... John Garfield and Lllli Palmer to star in United Jewish Appeal drama, "Homecoming 1949," .on Mutual Sunday (3).... Daughter born to the Neal Hathaways on Friday (25). He's manager of CBS Program Promotion.... Todd Russell, emcee, and Walt Framer, producer of CBS' "Strike It Rich," off Saturday (26) for 10 days in Miami ...Ethel Browning-and LulS Van -Rooten added-tor-east-of- "Lora Lawton" . .. . Lome Lynn, Elizabeth Watts, Lauren Gilbert and Joan Lorrine to "Our Gal Sunday" and Audrey Egan to "Stella Dallas".... "Our Gat Sunday,'' produced by Frank and Anne Hummert, begins its 13th year on the air this week. Joe Field, asst. press director at Compton, planed Sat. (26) with wife to Haiti for 18-day vacation .. . .Edythe Meserand, WOR's asst. news chief, on week's breather in Williamsburg, Va. .. .WHOM 5kw Club to stage benefit with Italian stars at Brooklyn Academy of Music April 29 for Columbia College scholarship fund.. . Bill Gale, bandleader of CBS' "County Fairi" to conduct at Art Students League Ball at Waldorf April 22 When Bea Wain and Andre Baruch exit WMCA's "Mr. and Mrs. Showj" they'll take their theme song with them, although the indie controls the titleJess Barnes, MBS sales veepee, to White Sulphur Springs for AAAA confab next week Rosemary Rice to Buffalo for April 4 performance of "I Remember Mama" on "Cavalcade of America (NBC).... Arthur Feldman, MBS special events chief, sewed up Gen. Omar Bradley's Waldorf-Astoria address April 5. IN HOLLYWOOD ... Al Jolson has become so tape-minded that he called off his trip to New York because NBC's Ampex recorders won't be ready for him next month. He had planned to be in Manhattan from April 14 to 28, with a side trip to Florida, but now he'll tape here and do his sunning at Palm Springs... .Jack Runyon moved his Blow staff out of Golum-' bia Square up the street a. block so CBS could have the space for its music department .... After a lengthy skull session with Frank Mullen. Sid Strotz was asked Jf he had bought Dick Richards' KMPC. Flipped Sir Sidney, "It's- the other way around, he bought NBC".. . .Bob; Shannon decamped Don Lee to start his own show, "Shannon's She- nanigans," on ABC in the vacated Abbott and Costello time "CornyT Jackson bought the Matrk Hellinger home with enough grounds for 10 tennis courts....J. C. Flippen's giveaway, "Earn Your Vacation," was recorded at CBS. in both a half hour and quarter hour strip ver- sions. The longer format is exclusively fat school teachers, who are generally.pinched for coin to take, a sabbatical... .ABC is giving Jack Kirkwood an ei ght-week trial for his new comedy piece, Kirkwood'i^ General Store. TTTCy Howard turned over direction of "Life With* Luigi" to his writer, Mac Benoff, and hereafter will merely supervise its production. He's working on a fresh comedy idea in: addition to directing "My Friend Irma.".... Bob Hope and William Bendix lead off the guest list, in that order, on the Jerry Lewis-Dean Martin com- edy stanza kicking off April 3. Show moves to New York earlj; in May for six airings. . . .Horace Heldt and his ams will pass the next five months along the coast.... Shellah Graham carries on for Conti Castile after ''Yours for a Song" is stilled for the summer. She'll expand on her current interview spot and dish up cinema chatter.. . .Kay Starr closed out her ABC series because of conflicting guest shots. . . .N. W. Ayer proxy, Harry Batten, around for a few days enroute back to New York from his Arizona hideout... Hay McClinton due in next week oh cross-country junket with Telephone Hour....Bing Crosby and his guestar, James Stewart, had only one reading before goilig on -tape^ and.that at the ball park between innings of the-Pirate-Cub game .... For 18 y^ars now Minetta Ellen, J. Anthony Smythe, Beraice Berwin, Michael Raffeto and Barton Yarborough have been playing their orig- inal roles in "One Man's Family." Bmg winds up with Philco June: 1 and lights up a Chesterfield Sept; 28^ Juist how he's not even smoking, having put away his pipes some time ago... .Joan Leslie will be "Poor Miriam" once it gets on the air.> fJV CHICAGO ... Bishop Bernard Shell has skedded test operations for his FM out- let WFJL today (Wed.) Regular<run for new Lincoln Tower stick is May 22.. . Jim McKnight named commercial manager Of WMAW, Milwau- kee ABC outlet . , . . Sun-Times political columnist Pete Akers guest speaker on WJJD forum.. . .South Illinbis U. singers opened WGN series on Chi musical groups... Richard Swift and Don Miller of WCBS in from Gotham for CBS Radio Sales... : NBC public affairs director Judith Waller in UNESCO conference at Cleveland March 31 MBS midwest flack chief George Herro new director of Sigma Delta Cht journalism frat ... J. Walter Thompson exec Ted JardiUe off to Cuba for month vacation... .NBC's Chick ShoWerman and Art Jacobson in New York on biz... .Jim Ameche emcee at WTTS dedication in Bloom- ington, Ind. Disker Norman Ross asked for WMAQ listener opinion on a pro- posed change in program format. Week later, 58,000 letters had poured into station... .CBS sales manager Don Roberts catching sun in Florida .,. .NBC visitor was Bemarr Cooper. U. S. militaey chief of .Tapanese Broadcasting Corp ABC central division promotions include Bob Brethauer4:o network sales as account exc,'and Bob Atwood to spot of I sales service'manager Mutual veepee Ade Hult back to desk with I Florida tan.... Singer Mary Small guested via WBBM today.... Hi I Club producer Nort .Tonathan winner of Boys Clubs of America award I for his tenage etiquet booklet , i . WGN farm director Hal Totten made I honorary member of Senn High's Quill & Scroll society;... NBC Sales I manager Paul McCluer off to Florida vacation.. . .WIND flack chief Jimie Spanos in Nassau on pleasure jaunt WBBM visitors were sales manager Gil Jolinston of KMOX, St. Louis, and commercial man- ager Keith Byerly of WBT, Charlotte.... WGN emcee Hank Grant voted tops in Chi announcers by U. of Illinois Craftsmen Club...y WBBM news editor Everett Holies in new flve-a-week series at tM p.m.. ..Gordon Hayes, wtotern manager o£ Badio Sales, attentf New York meeting.